Published on
9 November 2023
Read time
3 mins
In the complex world of purchasing software licenses, let’s be honest, it can become a frenzied free-for-all. We will always have a personal preference on the software tools we use in best way to support our succession in role, and let us also bear in mind that we will typically do anything we can to succeed!
It would be nearly impossible to put a figure on the number of different software licenses available globally, but for illustration purposes, let’s say there are approximately 10 million software tools available (there are obviously more!). So, if across your organisation, you were to utilise a tiny 0.01% of those software tools, your software portfolio would consist of 1,000 different software licenses and that’s a big number. Now lets go deeper:
- How many of those licenses are safe to be used?
- How many of the associated software manufacturers pose a risk to your organisation?
- Who within your organisation is responsible for those licenses?
- Do they actually use them?
- Have you paid for them?
If you don’t know the answers to those questions, then I would be a little bit worried, and manually getting to the bottom of your software estate can be a nightmare, it is both time consuming and costly.
But have you considered implementing a Software Asset Management (SAM) tool?
SAM has been designed to help organisations gain control, manage, and optimise their software assets throughout their lifecycle. We have highlighted what we deem to be the key benefits below:
- Cost savings: reduce your costs by identifying and understanding licenses that are not being used, or underused.
- Avoid penalties: if you are found to be non-compliant on a software agreement, the penalties associated can be pretty nasty!
- Risk mitigation: SAM helps to ensure that software is up-to-date, compliant, and safe to use.
- Centralised operations: streamlined, automated approach to a transparent “live” software portfolio.
- Supplier management: relationships can be improved with your suppliers due to a greater understanding of license usage, capability, and legal conditions.
Ease that dreaded guilt that one day you will receive a knock at the door from your local friendly auditor. Cheque book at the ready…
Reach out to find out more about how our SAM solution partners can support your organisation.
Richard Fotheringham - 7 Step Solutions
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